What about evil? Is it enough to simply place evil in our mental file cabinet under the category of the “mystery of evil,” and then just leave it at that? There certainly is mystery regarding evil. We can never fully plumb the depths of what God has revealed to us in His word regarding it. There are indeed “secret things” that God has not disclosed. We, in our present weak, partially sanctified and finite state would not be able to take it in.
We see the presence of evil in the recent horrific events of this past October 7th, 9/11, the holocaust, et al, and other effects of evil’s presence in this world such as disease, seemingly arbitrary disasters, and the terrible suffering resulting from those disasters. For many, these things provide a rationale for not trusting, or believing in “a God” who would allow such manifestations of evil. Many true Christians recognize the presence of evil, but see these kinds of evil manifestations in terms of God only allowing them, but not actually sovereignly ruling, and over-ruling them. For them, there exists only a gargantuan spiritual struggle between God Himself and the “principalities… powers… the rulers of the darkness of this age… spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places,” (namely, Satan and his demons), where God is just slightly stronger and will ultimately prevail.
Is it possible and permissible to dig further, and get Biblical answers to questions like: why does evil exist at all in God’s “very good” creation? Is creation no longer very good after the fall? Did God actually create evil? Does God use evil?
Download the paper below to get a Biblical perspective concerning those very questions.
We see the presence of evil in the recent horrific events of this past October 7th, 9/11, the holocaust, et al, and other effects of evil’s presence in this world such as disease, seemingly arbitrary disasters, and the terrible suffering resulting from those disasters. For many, these things provide a rationale for not trusting, or believing in “a God” who would allow such manifestations of evil. Many true Christians recognize the presence of evil, but see these kinds of evil manifestations in terms of God only allowing them, but not actually sovereignly ruling, and over-ruling them. For them, there exists only a gargantuan spiritual struggle between God Himself and the “principalities… powers… the rulers of the darkness of this age… spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places,” (namely, Satan and his demons), where God is just slightly stronger and will ultimately prevail.
Is it possible and permissible to dig further, and get Biblical answers to questions like: why does evil exist at all in God’s “very good” creation? Is creation no longer very good after the fall? Did God actually create evil? Does God use evil?
Download the paper below to get a Biblical perspective concerning those very questions.
| what_about_evil.pdf |